X-radiograph(s) of "Ginevra d'Este (?)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of “Ginevra d’Este (?)”, after a painting by Pisanello, located at the Harvard Art Museums. It gives us an uncanny glimpse beneath the surface. Editor: It’s haunting, this ghostly profile emerging from the shadows. The x-ray reveals so little, yet hints at so much. What does it tell us about the subject's lived experience? Curator: The x-ray as a medium is fascinating—it lays bare the artist’s process and highlights the materiality of the artwork. It shifts our perspective from the idealized image to the physical object. Editor: Absolutely. And think about Ginevra herself, her representation mediated through layers of power: Pisanello's brush, the x-ray’s gaze, and even our own interpretations. How do these layers impact her agency? Curator: It makes you consider the cultural implications of art conservation, doesn't it? This scientific examination is part of an ongoing dialogue between the artwork and its place within history. Editor: Indeed. It's a powerful reminder that art is never truly fixed, but constantly re-evaluated through the lens of shifting social and technological paradigms.